50 Greatest Soap Actors: #6 Peter Bergman

NAME: Peter BergmanRANK: 6SOAP ROLES: Jack Abbott, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (1989-present); Cliff Warner, ALL MY CHILDREN (1979-1989); GUIDING LIGHT; LOVE OF LIFE

AWARDS:
2008 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2007 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2005 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2002 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2000 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1999 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1998 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1997 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1996 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1995 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1994 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1994 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
1993 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Lead Actor
1992 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1991 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1990 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1983 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:Alan Carter: Melody Thomas Scott saw something in Cliff on AMC that could pull off Jack Abbott. Mel should work in casting ... I sure didn't think he would pull it off. But pull it off he did...ridiculously so.

Connie Passalacqua Hayman (Marlena De Lacroix): Like Vincent Irizarry, not very good when he started on daytime as Cliff on ALL MY CHILDREN. But wow -- as an amazing multi-layered, cerebral Jack Abbott his acting skills have grown to just stunning over the years. One of the best actors on daytime right now. A special mention to the terrific and late Terry Lester, who originated Jack, the ultimate charming cad.

COMMENTS FROM CO-STARS/CO-WORKERS/INDUSTRY:Carmen Thomas: (worked with Bergman on ALL MY CHILDREN) All I can say is, "The Doctor is In." That was the sign we put on his dressing room door. He was always available and accessible and such an all around really good guy. The advice he gave me when I first arrived was, "Always keep your bags packed."

Taylor Miller: (worked with Bergman on ALL MY CHILDREN) Peter was a very giving actor and about not putting a shadow on my face and making me look good [laughs]. I don’t know. I think it was one of those things where they hired people with great chemistry together.

8 comments:

NUMBER 6???? Are you kidding. It was between him and David Canary for #1. I know they'll throw Anthony Geary in the top 3 mix but Peter Bergman is my absolute favorite male actor on soaps. He should've been top 3. Easily.

Sadly I believe Anthony Geary will come in first place. No question he's one of the superb actors of daytime and he definitely belong in the top five...but I also believe he's one of the most overly praised great actors. I think the top five will run accordingly:

Bryggman's brilliance at taking John Dixon, ATWT and transforming him into one of the most complicated and complex character in soap history wasn't just an act of pure genius, but I firmly believe it was his performances that made it possible at going beyond the cardboard, black and white, stock villian character to a multi-layered, complex gray villian that you can actually care about even when you wanted to kick him in the butt. He was the blueprint in which all other villians has followed. He won't be number one but for me he deserves it!

I agree george66, Larry Bryggman and Elizabeth Hubbard made ATWT more than just another soap opera. I also think that Justin Deas had a great ability to transition from villian to a man you were always rooting for.